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CBTJ 12 (Spring/Fall 1996) 116-134

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CBTJ 12 (Spring/Fall 1996) 116-134 CBTJ 12 (Spring/Fall 1996) 116-134 A Seventeenth Century English Bible Controversy Clint Banz Librarian, Calvary Baptist Theological Seminary Lansdale, PeI1I1sylvania The twentieth century has witnessed a phenomenal number of new English Bible translations and paraphrases. Since 1900 nearly 200 new English translations have rolled off the presses.' Such tremendous growth has fostered a great deal of confusion and suspicion among many Fundamental Christians. Questions are raised such as, "Why give up the tried and tested King James version?" or "What's wrong with continuing to use the version that Bible-believers have always used?" Groups have sprouted up and formed associations with slogans such as "KJV Only" and "Only KJV." All too often, the very mention of possibly using an alternative translation instigates hostility and separates brethren. This situation, however, may be remedied in many cases by reflecting upon similar events in history. Questions such as: ls the King James Bible the original English Bible? Was it always the English Bible used by those who profess faith in Christ? How was it received when it was the 'contemporary' translation of the day? How 1Brucc Metzger, "Rccenl Translations: A Survey and Evaluation, .. So111hweslen1 Joumal o/Theology 34 (Spring t 992): 5. 116 Bnnz: Seventeenth Ccnlwy English Bible Controversy 117 and why did it become the predominant translation of the English­ speaking world? It is the purpose of this article to address those questions surrounding the provenance of the King James Bible and the process of its attaining predominance. This will be done first by looking at a brief survey of the English translations of the sixteenth century; second, the origin and initial reception of the King James Bible will be considered; and third, the process by which the King James Bible became the prominent translation will be traced. Hopefully this retrospective glance will give added perspective on the contemporary discussion of Bible versions among Fundamental Baptists. English Translations 1525 to 1604 Growth of English Translations Although the growth of modem translations is phenomenal, it is not the first time that multiple English translations were made available and read in the churches. Following the publication of Erasmus' Greek New Testament, a number of vernacular translations were produced. The first individual championing an English vernacular from the Greek and Hebrew was William Tyndale. Tyndale was conunitted to having the Bible in the language of the people. Permission, however, was denied him by Church authorities. Tyndale resolved the dilemma by moving to Holland to work on this endeavor. His New Testament was translated and printed in 1525. From Holland his translation was smuggled into England and the first attempt had been made to supply the English people with a translation from the original languages. Tyndale continued his translation work until his betrayal and execution in 1536. By this time, however, others arose who shared Tyndale's mission. This resulted in a number of Bible translations which were heavily indebted to Tyndale's work: the Coverdale Bible (1535), Matthew's Bible (1537), Taverner's Bible (1539), and finally 118 Calvary Baptist Theological Jounial Spring/Fall 1996 the Great Bible in 1539 which during the reign of King Henry VIII became the Bible "appointed to the use of the churches."' The Geneva Bible Production of Geneva Bible. Following the accession of Mary Tudor to the throne in 1553, England experienced a Catholic resurgence. Many Protestants fled into exile and settled in Geneva. Convinced of the need for another translation, they set to work on what would be known as the Geneva Bible. The Geneva Bible was printed in 1560 and inunediately became the Bible of the people. It contained many features which conunended its popularity. Among other things, it was a superior translation to those that preceded it. Also it was the first English Bible to use Roman as opposed to the Gothic (i.e. black letter) type. Tiris allowed for ease of reading. More importantly, its size permitted greater portability being quarto rather than the standard folio. 3 This in tum permitted it to be sold for a modest price and as one writer observed, "within the average householders of England, Scotland, and Ireland."' Another feature was that it was the first English Bible that included verse division-each verse thus was treated as a separate paragraph. Along with all of these traits, it contained a great deal of notes to facilitate the readers' understanding. Many of these notes represented a reformed point of view. Some, especially those that were added in 1576 by Laurence Tomson, emphasized to a greater degree predestinarian theology. A new set of annotations were added in 1602 to the book of Revelation. This became known as the 2F. F. Bruce, History of the Bible in the English, 3rrl ed. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1978). 80. Tus quarto size was 6112 x 931<4 inches. Bruce Metzger, "The Geneva Bible of 1560," Theology Today 17 (Oclobcr 1960): 343. "Ira Jay Martin, "The Geneva Bible," Andover Newton Quarterly 1 (March 1%1): 49. Banz: Seventeenth Century English Bible Controversy 119 Geneva-Tomson-Jurius version, and contained harsh condemnation of the papacy.' Popularity of the Geneva Bible. The Geneva Bible was the first English translation to be published in Scotland. John Knox and other Presbyterian reformers adopted its usage in their churches. In fact, by 1580 an Act of Parliament in Scotland made it essential for all households above a certain income to own a Geneva Bible.6 Even as late as 1674, records show its usage in Kintore, in Aberdeenshire, Scotland.' The Church of England, however, responded quite differently. It made no official adoption of it, but on the contrary discouraged the usage of the Geneva Bible. Nevertheless, it did receive permission to be printed in England in 1575. Prior to that, however, the Church sought to counter its success with another translation, a revision of the Great Bible which became known as the Bishops' Bible. This revision of the Great Bible was a definite improvement of the Great Bible, but did nothing to supplant the popularity of the Geneva Bible. Despite its popularity, the Geneva Bible was never authorized by either Queen Elizabeth or Parliament. This status had been given to the Great Bible and was assumed for the Bishops' Bible. Consequently, the Church of England had more than one authorized version (the Great Bible and the Bishops' Bible). Nevertheless, even though two Bibles had been officially approved by the authorities, the Geneva Bible was the Bible preferred by the people. 'Maurice S. Betteridge, "The Bitter Notes: The Geneva Bible and Its Annotations," Tire Sixteenth Century Journal 14 (Spring 1983): 45. 6 John Eadie, The English Bible: An External and Critical History of tire Variolls Errglislr Translations of Scripture, vol. 2 (London Macmillan and Co., 1876), 46. 'Bruce, History of the Bible in English, 92. 120 Calvary Baptist Theological Jounral Spring/Fall 1996 The Quest for an New 'Authorized' Bible In order to understand the rationale behind the authorities advocating another English translation of the Bible, it is necessary to have some historical background of the political and religious context of Great Britain during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. England's Political and Religious Situation Queen Elizabeth had died in 1603 with no immediate heirs to the throne. Consequently, James VI of Scotland, being the nearest legal heir, inherited the crown as James I. England's Puritans were hopeful of this transfer of power, for they envied Scotland's reform and had become restless under Elizabeth. On the other hand, the Church of England still had many who desired the via media (i.e. compromise) of Elizabeth's reign. Even more importantly, James did not share the same concerns as most Puritans. To resolve matters, James I called a meeting at Hampton Court with representatives of these two groups. During this council, a Puritan named John Reynolds addressed the problem of multiple versions, declaring their inadequacy. Interestingly, his comments reflected mistakes of contemporary versions with the exception of the Geneva Bible. It has been conjectured that Reynolds was indirectly advocating the authorization of the Geneva Bible.• James, however, expressed dissatisfaction with all English translations, especially the Geneva Bible. His objections were with reference to the annotations of the Geneva Bible. He declared that some were, "very partial, untrue, seditious, and savouring too much of dangerous and traitorous conceits."9 He cited two examples (Exod 1: 19 and 2 Chron 15:16) both of which reflected contemporary political concerns of James 1S. L. Grccnslade, Can1bridge History of the Bible, vol. 3 (Ca1nbridgc: Cambridge University Press, 1963), 164. 'Bruoe, History ofthe Bible in English, 91; Dan G. Danner, "English Calvinists & the Geneva Bible," in Later Calvinism: lnten1alio11al Perspectives, W. Fred Graham, ed. (Kirksville, MO: Sixteenth Century Journal Publishers, 1994), 500. Banz: Seventeenth Century English Bible Controversy 121 rather than theological issues. In short, he thought the notes of the Geneva Bible could be interpreted as sanctioning disobedience to monarchs.10 James may also have had additional reasons for this contempt of the Geneva Bible. As the son of the Catholic Monarch, Mary Queen of Scots, he was aware that Mary's fall from power was greatly influenced by Presbyterian reformers such as John Knox. It had been these reformers and their annotated Bible, the Geneva Bible, that had helped to generate reform in Scotland, despite their having a Catholic queen. James, moreover, was not in sympathy with much of the reform in Scotland. He despised presbyterianism and applauded the hierarchy of the episcopacy, for it alone he claimed insured the monarchy.'' His prejudice against the Geneva Bible was disclosed in 160 l, when as King James VI of Scotland he had attempted to move the Scottish Parliament to authorize a new translation due to his dissatisfaction with the annotations of the Geneva Bible; no such action was taken, however.
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